Wageningen University & Research is now looking to appoint a new Managing Director for its Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group.

On behalf of Wageningen University & Research, Perrett Laver is recruiting for this position. For more information, please visit: https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/.

Wageningen University and Research (WUR) is recognised worldwide as the leading centre for state-of-the-art knowledge about food and the natural environment. WUR's integral approach, combining fundamental scientific research at Wageningen University with the market-focus of the Wageningen Research Foundation Institutes, leads to scientific breakthroughs that can quickly be translated into practice and incorporated into education. More than 6,500 employees and 12,000 students together "explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life".

The Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group (AFSG) is one of the largest of WUR's five Science Groups. Its four University Science Clusters and the Wageningen Food & Biobased Research Institute conduct worldtop scientific research and collaborate with leading partners in international business and government in the area of nutrition, healthy, tasty, safe and fresh food, environmental technology and biobased products.

Key Responsibilities and Characteristics
The Managing Director holds final responsibility for the strategy and functioning of AFSG in the areas of research, education, business development, marketing, finance, organisational development, personnel, communication and culture within the complex organisation of Wageningen University Research. The Managing Director leads on the development of an inspiring vision for AFSG and creates support for this vision across the Science Group. S/he will promote and ensure a structurally strong scientific position as well as a national and international market orientation for ASFG.

Reporting to the President of the Executive Board, the Managing Director is a member of the Board of Directors/Concern Council. Therefore, the Managing Director is responsible for the Groups contribution to the wider WUR strategy and expected to develop and lead cross-unit initiatives that contribute to strengthening WUR as a whole.

The ideal candidate:

• is a connector and team player who promotes cooperation and who has a leadership style that is both guiding and coaching;
• is result-driven and has proven management skills, with experience in administration and management;
• is open to and responds proactively to change, and can translate this into innovative solutions;
• has an international network (including government, industry, academia and other social partners) and is expanding this constantly;
• can link scientific quality and innovation to entrepreneurship, acquisition and customer focus, and has a vision for developing, transferring and adding value to knowledge;
• is outward-facing and sensitive to the public and politic debate;
• has an affinity with the scientific domains of AFSG, and preferably a PhD;
• is receptive, seeks consensus and takes responsibility in resolving issues and stands behind decisions taken;
• communicates clearly and effectively;
• recognizes the role of the Works Council (employee participation) in the governance of AFSG and is able to maintain constructive relations with it .

The position offered is on a fulltime basis for a period of four years, with the possibility of one extension. Salary is competitive and depending on qualifications and experience. Salary and benefits are based on the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities. Additionally, Wageningen University & Research offers an attractive package of secondary employment benefits.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University and Research centre
Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus - each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don't do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality, on a global scale.

Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need.

For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at www.wageningenur.nl/career.